Fabric structure

ABSTRACT

A fabric structure includes a plurality of first light-reflecting units, a plurality of light-guiding units, and a plurality of second light-reflecting units. The cross-section of the first light-reflecting units and the second light-reflecting units is triangular or square, and the brightness of the first light-reflecting unit and the second light-reflecting units is between level  3  and level  10 . The light-guiding units and the first light-reflecting units are interwoven and tatted. The second light-reflecting units are disposed with the light-guiding units in parallel and are disposed between the light-guiding units and the second light-reflecting units are interwoven and tatted with the first light-reflecting units. The ratio of the light-guiding units to the second light-reflecting units is between 20:0 and 1:5.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fabric structure. In particular, this invention relates to a fabric structure that can actively emit light and reflect light.

2. Description of Related Art

The lighting principle for light emitting fabric of the prior art is implemented in the following way. The reflection material (Fluorocarbon) is coated on the surface of the lighting fabric, part of the reflection material is destroyed by a physical or chemical method, and the end of the lighting fiber of the lighting fabric is connected with a light source. When the end of the fiber is connected with the light source, the light beam outputted from the light source is transmitted along the lighting fiber. Because part of the reflection material on the surface of the lighting fabric is destroyed, the light beam emits from the surface of the lighting fabric. Therefore, the surface of the lighting fabric has a light emitting effect.

However, although the lighting fabric has an actively light emitting effect, the intensity of the light beam outputted from the surface of the lighting fabric is not big enough. Furthermore, because the limpness of the lighting fabric is insufficient, the lighting fabric cannot be processed with a large curved angle. It is not suitable for making clothes and decorations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One particular aspect of the present invention is to provide a fabric structure that can enhance the light beam outputted from the light source. The texture of the fabric is soft. It can be easily processed, the weight is light, and it is convenient for the user to carry it.

The fabric structure includes a plurality of first light-reflecting units, and a plurality of light-guiding units. The cross-section of the first light-reflecting unit is triangular or square. The brightness of the first light-reflecting unit is between level 3 and level 10. The light-guiding units and the first light-reflecting units are interwoven and tatted.

The present invention has the following characteristics. After the light-guiding units are connected with the light source, the fabric can actively provide the light. Furthermore, the present invention utilizes the light reflection effect of the first light-reflecting units to reflect the light to the same side and focus the light so that the light is enhanced. Moreover, the first light-reflecting units make the fabric structure be softer. The fabric structure can be easily processed, its weight is light, and it is convenient for the user to carry it. The fabric structure is suitably applied to the clothes and decorations.

For further understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description illustrating the embodiments and examples of the invention. The description is for illustrative purpose only and is not intended to limit the scope of the claim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings included herein provide a further understanding of the invention. A brief introduction of the drawings is as follows:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the fabric structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the A-A line in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another schematic diagram of the fabric structure of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the B-B line in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the C-C line in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, the fabric structure includes a plurality of first light-reflecting units 1, and a plurality of light-guiding units 2. The cross-section of the first light-reflecting unit 1 is triangular or square. The light-guiding units 2 and part of the first light-reflecting units 1 are interwoven and tatted. The density of the fabric structure is between 50 and 100 lines per square inch. The brightness of the first light-reflecting unit 1 is divided into 10 levels according to the CNS-7773 brightness measurement method. The brightness levels 1 to 3 do not produce a light-reflecting effect. The brightness levels 3 to 10 produce a light-reflecting effect. In this embodiment, the brightness level of the first light-reflecting unit is 6. Alternatively, the brightness level of the first light-reflecting unit can be 3 to 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the curve represents the first light-reflecting unit 1. The circle represents the cross-section 21 of the light-guiding unit 2 (this means that the light-guiding unit 2 is column-shaped). The area of the light-guiding units 2 that is interwoven up the first light-reflecting units 1 is defined a first area 3, and the area of the light-guiding units 2 that is interwoven below with the first light-reflecting units is defined a second area 4. The light-guiding unit 2 includes at least one side light-guiding portion (not shown in the figure). The end of the fiber of the light-guiding units 2 (1-7 lines, in a preferred embodiment, the number is 3-5 lines) is connected with light source (not shown in the figure). The light source can be an LED or other lighting elements. The light beam emitted from the side light-guiding portion of the light-guiding unit 2 is defined as a first light beam 5. The light beam emitting from the light source (the external light source) that does not connect with the light-guiding unit 2 is defined as a second light beam 6. The first light-reflecting units 1 located on the first area 3 and the second area 4 reflects the first light beam 5 and the second light beam 6 so that the first light beam 5 and the second light beam 6 are focused to the same side to enhance the light beam.

Reference is made to FIG. 3, which shows another embodiment of the fabric structure. The fabric structure includes a plurality of first light-reflecting units 7, a plurality of light-guiding units 8, and a plurality of second light-reflecting units 9. The cross-section of the first light-reflecting unit 7 and the second light-reflecting unit 9 is triangular or square. The light-guiding units 8 and the first light-reflecting units 7 are interwoven and tatted. The second light-reflecting units 9 and the light-guiding units 8 are disposed in parallel and each of the second light-reflecting units 9 is disposed between two adjacent light-guiding units 8, and the second light-reflecting units 9 also are interwoven and tatted with the first light-reflecting units 7. The density of the fabric structure is between 50 and 210 lines per square inch. The brightness of the first light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9 is between level 3 to 10. The first light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9 with a variety of brightness and a variety of shape are selected to implement different embodiments. The ratio of the light-guiding unit 8 to the second light-reflecting unit 9 is between 20:0 and 1:7. In this embodiment, the ratio of the light-guiding unit 8 to the second light-reflecting unit 9 is 1:1. This means that there is a second light-reflecting unit 9 between two light-guiding units 8. The ratio of the light-guiding unit 8 to the second light-reflecting unit 9 can be adjusted. In one preferred embodiment, the ratio of the light-guiding unit 8 to the second light-reflecting unit 9 is between 20:0 and 1:5.

As shown in FIG. 4, the curve represents the first light-reflecting unit 7. The circle represents the cross-section 81 of the light-guiding unit 8. The square represents the cross-section 91 of the second light-reflecting unit 9 (this means that the second light-reflecting unit 9 is square column-shaped). The area of the light-guiding units 8 (as shown in FIG. 3) and the second light-reflecting units 9 (as shown in FIG. 3) that are interwoven up the first light-reflecting units 7 is defined a third area 100, and the area of the second light-reflecting units 9 that is interwoven below the first light-reflecting units 7 is defined a fourth area 200. The light-guiding unit 8 includes at least one side light-guiding portion (not shown in the figure). The end of the fiber of the light-guiding units 2 (1-7 lines, in a preferred embodiment, the number is 3-5 lines) is connected with light source (not shown in the figure). The light source can be an LED or other lighting elements. The first light beam 5 emits from the side light-guiding portions of the light-guiding units 8. The first light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9 located on the third area 100 and the fourth area 200 reflects the first light beam 5 and the second light beam 6 so that the first light beam 5 and the second light beam 6 are focused to the same side to enhance the light beam.

As shown in FIG. 5, the area of the light-guiding units 8 and the second light-reflecting units 9 that are interwoven up the first light-reflecting units 7 is defined a fifth area 300, and the area of the light-guiding units 8 that is interwoven below the first light-reflecting units 7 is defined a sixth area 400. The first light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9 located on the fifth area 300 and the sixth area 400 reflects the first light beam 5 and the second light beam 6 so that the first light beam 5 and the second light beam 6 are focused to the same side to enhance the light beam.

The light-guiding units 8 and the second light-reflecting units 9 with different ratio, the first light-reflecting units 1, 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9 with different shape, and the first light-reflecting units 1, 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9 with different brightness can be arranged in pairs to achieve the a variety of embodiments of the present invention. Some conclusion is described as below according to the measurement result of the brightness by using the CNS-7773 brightness measurement method.

1. When the ratio of the light-guiding units 8 to the second light-reflecting units 9 are the same and the shape of the first light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9 are the same, the higher is the brightness of the first light-reflecting units 7 or the second light-reflecting units 9, the higher is the brightness of the fabric structure.

2. When the ratio of the light-guiding units 8 to the second light-reflecting units 9 are the same, the brightness of the fabric structure composed of the first light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9 with the triangular or square shape is higher than the brightness of the fabric structure composed of the first light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting units, 9 with the circular column shape due to the first light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9 with the triangular or square shape can reflect more light beam.

3. When the ratio of the light-guiding units 8 is higher than the ratio of the second light-reflecting units 9, the brightness of the fabric structure is higher. When the ratio of the light-guiding units 8 is lower than the ratio of the second light-reflecting units 9, the brightness of the fabric structure is lower. However, the texture of the fabric structure is softer so that the fabric structure can be easily processed, its weight is light, and it is convenient for the user to carry it.

When the fabric structure is applied to a warning label, the structure of the first embodiment (the first light-reflecting units 1 and the light-guiding units 2) and the first light-reflecting units 1 with a higher brightness are adopted due to the warning label needs a higher brightness. When the fabric structure is applied to clothes or decorations, the structure of the second embodiment (the first light-reflecting units 7, the light-guiding units 8 and the second light-reflecting units 9) are adopted due to the clothes or decorations need to be easily processed.

The present invention has the following characteristics:

1. After the light-guiding units 2, 8 are connected with the light source, the fabric can actively provide the light. Furthermore, the present invention utilizes the light reflection effect of the first light-reflecting units 1, 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9 to reflect the light beam to the same side and focus the light beam so that the light beam is enhanced.

2. When the ratio of the light-guiding unit 8 to the second light-reflecting unit 9 is between 20:0 and 1:5, the ability of the actively emitting light and reflecting light of the fabric structure is the best.

3. The first light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9 make the texture of the fabric structure be softer so that the fabric structure can be easily processed, its weight is light, and it is convenient for the user to carry it. The fabric structure is suitable for clothes and decorations.

The description above only illustrates specific embodiments and examples of the invention. The invention should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described structure and operations of the invention, provided they fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following appended claims. 

1. A fabric structure, comprising: a plurality of first light-reflecting units, wherein the cross-section of the first light-reflecting units is triangular or square, and the brightness of the first light-reflecting unit is between level 3 and level 10; and a plurality of light-guiding units, wherein the light-guiding units and the first light-reflecting units are interwoven and tatted.
 2. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of second light-reflecting units, wherein the second light-reflecting units are disposed with the light-guiding units in parallel and are disposed between the light-guiding units, and the second light-reflecting units are interwoven and tatted with the first light-reflecting units.
 3. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ratio of the light-guiding units to the second light-reflecting units is between 20:0 and 1:7.
 4. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ratio of the light-guiding units to the second light-reflecting units is between 20:0 and 1:5.
 5. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-guiding unit includes at least one side light-guiding portion.
 6. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-guiding units are connected with a light source.
 7. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the density of the fabric structure is between 50 and 210 lines per square inch.
 8. A fabric structure, comprising: a plurality of first light-reflecting units, wherein the cross-section of the first light-reflecting units is triangular or square, and the brightness of the first light-reflecting unit is between level 3 and level 10; a plurality of light-guiding units, wherein the light-guiding units and the first light-reflecting units are interwoven and tatted; and a plurality of second light-reflecting units, wherein the cross-section of the second light-reflecting units is triangular or square, the brightness of the second light-reflecting unit is between level 3 and level 10, the second light-reflecting units are disposed with the light-guiding units in parallel and are disposed between the light-guiding units, the second light-reflecting units are interwoven and tatted with the first light-reflecting units, and the ratio of the light-guiding units to the second light-reflecting units is between 20:0 and 1:5.
 9. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the light-guiding unit includes at least one side light-guiding portion.
 10. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the light-guiding units are connected with a light source.
 11. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the density of the fabric structure is between 50 and 210 lines per square inch. 